Thundershowers wreak havoc: Two killed, several villages marooned in Odisha

Bhubaneswar: At least 2 persons were killed and 11 others were left injured in lightning strikes as heavy rain and thunderstorms continued in several parts of the State crippling normal life.

Two women were killed, while 11 others including 9 women were injured in lightning strikes at two separate places in Ganjam and Nabarangpur districts.

According to sources, lightning claimed two lives and injured nine women while they were working on a farm near Mahaguda village in Bhanjanagar of Ganjam district. A woman and her daughter were also severely injured after a lightning struck them on a field near Rajamatu under Papadahandi block in Nabarangpur district.

In Rayagada, the heavy downpour brought life to standstill and left many villages in Bissamcuttack block marooned. Rainwater forced hundreds of villagers of Paikadakuluguda and Thuapadi panchayats to take shelter in dry places. Communication was cut off with flood water flowing 4 feet above the Bhejipadar-Kanijodi Bridge.

As per reports, the incessant rains destroyed crops, roads and damaged houses in Muniguda, Chandrapura and Bisamcuttack blocks. Locals rued that the administration remained indifferent despite repeated demands for repair of roads, leading to worsening of the condition of roads.

Meanwhile the Kalyani River has been swelling  inundating several villages in Kalyansinghpur panchayat. As many as 25 families of the panchayat had to be shifted to safer places after the flood water entered the villages.

While the thunderstorm left a trail of destruction in Sadar block of Nuapada district, the sudden burst of shower and gusty winds left many trees and electric pole uprooted at Gurujibhatta village. No reports of casualties have been reported.

Similarly, in Polsara block of Ganjam district, flood water from Dhanei River entered the Banthapalli panchayat. As many as 25 families were shifted to a nearby school. In Kabisuryanagar area of the district, flood water was reportedly flowing above the Baghua Bridge leading to disruption in communication between Berhampur and Budhambaru.

Meanwhile, with the low pressure turning into a well-marked low pressure system today, the local meteorological department has issued an alert forecasting heavy to very heavy rainfall in several parts of the State in next 24 hours

While several northern and southern pockets of the state are likely to receive heavy rainfall, some places of the coastal Odisha will receive heavy to very heavy rainfall in next 24 hours, weathermen said.

Fishermen have been asked not to venture out into sea, an official release from the local meteorological centre said.